Ecological disaster on Greek island as fire burns on
7 years agoFirefighters remove burnt trees after a wildfire near the village of Makrimalli, on the Greek Evia island on August 14, 2019. - Hundreds of villagers were evacuated on August 13 and the Greek prime minister cancelled a vacation as scores of firefighters battled a major wildfire on the country's second-largest island of Evia, authorities said. "Conditions are exceptionally difficult and the state's first priority is to protect lives," Greek prime minister told reporters outside the fire department's centre of operations, after cutting short a vacation on his home island of Crete. Four Canadair fire-fighting planes from Croatia and Italy would be deployed on August 14 after Greece requested EU assistance. (Photo by Louisa GOULIAMAKI / AFP)
Firefighters on the Greek island of Evia were still battling Wednesday to contain a fire that has caused massive damage to a pristine mountain wildlife habitat after threatening four communities.